Cap for a container

ABSTRACT

A cap assembly for a container used for holding a liquid that is removed from the container, the cap assembly includes: a cap having a roof portion, a cylindrical skirt depending from an outer periphery defined by the roof portion, and a well extending from the roof portion into the cap. The well further has a wall terminating at a base structure, and the base structure has an aperture that is sized smaller than the well. The cap assembly also includes a filter sized to frictionally fit into the well section and the filter is air permeable and liquid impermeable. The cap assembly also includes a seal that has an opening sized to fit over the well and has a diameter substantially matching the internal diameter of the.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Containers that hold liquids are well known in the industry. Some of these containers are also used as reservoirs to hold liquids that are siphoned or suctioned out at various speeds or that use gravity to dispense the liquid. To maintain the flow of liquid, vent holes must be present. The vent holes allow outside air pressure to enter into the container preventing a negative pressure inside the container. The present invention uses a cap designed to prevent any liquid from escaping or leaking as well as permitting the container to breathe and receive air to balance the pressures and allow the flow of liquid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is herein described a cap assembly for a container used for holding a liquid that is removed from the container. The cap assembly includes a cap defined as having a roof portion, a cylindrical skirt depending from an outer periphery defined by the roof portion, and a well extending from the roof portion into the cap. The well has a wall terminating at a base structure. The base structure has an aperture that is sized smaller than the well. The cap assembly includes a filter sized to frictionally fit into the well section. The filter is air permeable and liquid impermeable such that liquid within the container does not leak through the filter and air may pass through the filter into the container to aid in equalizing the pressures within and outside of the container. The cap assembly may also include a seal having an opening sized to fit over the well and having a diameter substantially matching the internal diameter of the cap such that an outer periphery of the seal abuts an internal wall defined about the cylindrical skirt. The filter may be made from a sintered plastic material. In other embodiments, the cap may include a shoulder region defined between the roof portion and the skirt portion such that the outer periphery of the seal abuts an internal wall defined by the shoulder region. The cap may also include crenellated indentations defined on the skirt.

Numerous other advantages and features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A fuller understanding of the foregoing may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cap assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the cap from FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cap assembly from FIG. 1 showing the partial insertion of a filter;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cap assembly from FIG. 1 after the components are assembled together;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cap assembly from FIG. 1 being placed on a container;

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrated another type of filter that may also be used in the cap assembly; and

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrated another type of filter that may also be used in the cap assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

While the invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described herein, in detail, the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the spirit or scope of the invention and/or claims of the embodiments illustrated.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 7 there is shown in accordance to an embodiment a cap assembly 100 for sealing a container 250 or reservoir that is holding a liquid. The liquid may be siphoned or suctioned out of the container 250 or the liquid may flow out of the container 250 by a gravity feed system through a tube 255. In any event, the container 250 needs to be vented to prevent a negative pressure inside the container and to maintain the flow of liquid therefrom. The cap assembly 100 helps prevent these shortcomings by allowing air to enter the container. At the same time, the cap prevents any liquid within the container from leaking therefrom by maintaining a liquid impermeable seal.

The cap assembly 100 includes a cap 110, a filter 200, and a seal 210. The cap 110 has an annular roof portion 115 that extends to a shoulder region 120. Extending downwardly from the shoulder region 120 is a annular skirt portion 125. The skirt portion 125 terminates at a flanged section 130. In addition, crenellated indentations 135 are provided around the skirt portion 125. The crenellated indentations 135 help in gripping when twisting the cap 110 off of a container. The cap 110 preferably includes twelve crenellated indentations 135 positioned uniformly around the circumference of the cap.

The top portion 115 includes a centered well 150. The well 150 is defined as having a shoulder region 155 extending from the top portion 115 into the well 150. The shoulder region 155 may be a tapered edge, as illustrated, or may be a more abrupt change. A well wall 160 extends from the shoulder region 155 to a base 162 creating the well within an interior 170 of the cap 110. The base 160 has an aperture 165 positioned therethrough. The aperture 165 is typically smaller than the well such that the filter 200 cannot be pushed into the container.

The interior 170 of the cap 110 would have a first thread region 175 to provide a means to secure the cap 110 onto a corresponding second thread region 255 on the container 250. Other securing means may be provided such as corresponding beads on the cap and container for a snap-fit arrangement. When secured, the cap 110 will close or fit over an orifice 260 defined by a neck 262 on the container 250.

The filter 200 is typically cylindrically shaped and sized to frictionally slide into the well 150 (illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4). The filter 200 can be a sintered plastic that allows air to pass through, but not the liquid. Other filters that can be utilized will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In any event, the filter 200 is preferably an air permeable and a liquid impermeable filter.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 5, and 6, the seal 210 is typically a rubber o-ring that includes an aperture 215 and an outer periphery 220 that is sized to substantially match an internal periphery of the cap. The aperture 215 is sized to fit over the outer wall 180 of the well 150. When the seal 210 is placed over the well 150, the outer periphery 220 abuts the internal periphery of the cap or the internal periphery of the shoulder region.

Referring now to FIGS. 8A and 8B there is shown in another embodiment a different type of filter used in the well 150. As illustrated a filter 300 is shown to have a centered member 305 extending through the aperture 165. The centered member 305 may include a nub 310 which when the filter is inserted is placed in the interior of the well. The top portion 315 of the filter 300 is flexible allowing air to push or flex the top portion 315 downwardly allowing air to enter. Additional apertures or air channels 320 are provided to allow the air to flex the top portion 315. This filter 300 may be used in connection with the sintered plastic (air permeable and liquid impermeable) filter shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIGS. 9A and 9B there is shown in another embodiment a different type of filter 350 used in the well 150. The filter 350 is a flexible end 355 that opens and closes to allow air to enter the container. This filter 350 may be used in connection with the sintered plastic (air permeable and liquid impermeable) filter shown in FIG. 1.

It should be further stated the specific information shown in the drawings but not specifically mentioned above may be ascertained and read into the specification by virtue of a simple study of the drawings. Moreover, the invention is also not necessarily limited by the drawings or the specification as structural and functional equivalents may be contemplated and incorporated into the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concept of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims. 

1. A cap assembly for a container used for holding a liquid that is removed therefrom, said cap assembly comprising: a cap defined as having a roof portion, a cylindrical skirt depending from an outer periphery defined by the roof portion, and a well extending from said roof portion into said cap, the well having a wall terminating at a base structure, said base structure having an aperture that is sized smaller than said well; and a filter sized to frictionally fit into said well section and having a material characteristic of being air permeable and liquid impermeable such that liquid contained within said container is prevented from leaking and air may pass through said filter into the container.
 2. The cap assembly of claim 1 further comprising a seal having an opening sized to fit over said well and having a diameter substantially matching the internal diameter of said cap such that an outer periphery of said seal abuts an internal wall defined about the cylindrical skirt.
 3. The cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the filter is made from a sintered plastic material.
 4. The cap assembly of claim 2, wherein the cap further includes a shoulder region defined between said roof portion and said skirt portion and wherein said outer periphery of said seal abuts an internal wall defined by the shoulder region.
 5. The cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the cap further includes crenellated indentations defined on the skirt.
 6. A cap assembly for use with a container holding a liquid that is removed therefrom: said container comprising: a neck portion surrounding an orifice, a thread positioned about the neck, a tube in fluid communication with said container, such that liquid contained therein flows through the tube when a pressure within the container substantially equals atmospheric pressure; and said cap assembly comprising: a cap defined as having a roof portion, a cylindrical skirt depending from an outer periphery defined by the roof portion, and a well extending from said roof portion into said cap, the well having a wall terminating at a base structure, said base structure having an aperture that is sized smaller than said well, a filter sized to frictionally fit into said well section and having a material characteristic of being air permeable and liquid impermeable such that liquid contained within said container is prevented from leaking and air may pass through said filter into the container, and a corresponding thread positioned on an internal region of said cylindrical skirt to mate with said thread on said neck, whereby air passes through said filter into said container to substantially equalize the pressure within the container and permit the fluid within the container to flow through said tube.
 7. The cap assembly of claim 6 further comprising a seal having an opening sized to fit over said well and having a diameter substantially matching the internal diameter of said cap such that an outer periphery of said seal abuts an internal wall defined about the cylindrical skirt.
 8. The cap assembly of claim 6, wherein the filter is made from a sintered plastic material.
 9. The cap assembly of claim 6, wherein the cap further includes a shoulder region defined between said roof portion and said skirt portion and wherein said outer periphery of said seal abuts an internal wall defined by the shoulder region.
 10. The cap assembly of claim 6, wherein the cap further includes crenellated indentations defined on the skirt. 